Raptors cool Heat, book duel vs Cavs
TORONTO – Toronto fans chanted ‘We Want Cleveland!’ in the final seconds. They got it.
Kyle Lowry scored 35 points, DeMar DeRozan had 28 and the Raptors beat the Miami Heat 116-89 in Game 7 on Sunday to advance to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history.
Bismack Biyombo added 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Raptors. They’ll open the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland against LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
“It’s great to hear the home crowd,” DeRozan said. “This organization deserves it, this country deserves it, to see them get to the next step, somewhere they haven’t been. But we’re not done yet.”
After struggling for much of the playoffs, Lowry and DeRozan were in top form for Game 7. Lowry made 11 of 20 shots, including five of seven from 3-point range, and DeRozan connected on 12 of 29 attempts. Lowry had nine assists and seven rebounds, DeRozan had eight rebounds.
“We never doubted Kyle and DeMar,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “They’re our All Stars and they both played like it tonight. They both stepped up and carried us.”
DeMarre Carroll scored 14 points, and Patrick Patterson had 11 to help the Raptors become the 15th team in NBA history to win two Game 7s in one postseason. Toronto beat Indiana in the first round.
Now the Raptors get ready for the Cavaliers, who swept Detroit in the first round and have been resting since May 8, when they capped a second-round sweep of Atlanta.
“I think this group is hungry,” Casey said about his team. “Never say never.”
Casey declined to say whether center Jonas Valanciunas, who sprained his right ankle in Game 3 against the Heat, would be available against Cleveland.
“He’s still limping around but he’s doing therapy 24-7 so we’ll see,” Casey said.
Scouting booklets for the Cleveland series were sitting on the chair of each Raptors player inside their locker room less than an hour the game.
“We know we’ve got a tough task ahead,” Lowry said. “It’s always a challenge going against those guys.”
Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic each scored 16 points for the Heat. Miami was denied the opportunity to renew acquaintances with former teammate James in the conference finals.